April 29, 2002	Monday	Safar 15, 1423

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KARACHI, April 28: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that the government would restore the glory of the city by addressing the law and order problem on top priority.

Speaking at his last public meeting before the April 30 referendum here, Gen Musharraf expressed concern over the killings of doctors, engineers and professionals in the city and asked the people to learn lessons from what was happening across the border in Gujarat.

Emboldened by the Supreme Court’s verdict, President Musharraf said the judgment had validated the need for the continuity of reforms initiated by his government and urged the people to rally behind him solidly.

He said that instead of engaging in fratricidal conflict with each other, people should demonstrate tolerance and respect for each other’s views and beliefs. He expressed satisfaction that in Pakistan minorities were living without fear. Our government wanted to promote the national integrity and wanted to make the country strong.

The president said that by forging unity economic and commercial activities of the city would be revived.

President Musharraf announced that Karachi Circular Railway would be revived, transport system would be streamlined and a park would be developed at the site of old Sabzi Mandi. The president informed the gathering that “Gutter Baghicha” would be converted into a garden and instructions to the provincial government had already been issued in this regard. He said both the federal and provincial governments would allocate money for developing the Arts Council and Aiwan-i-Riffat into excellent institutions.

Referring to multi-ethnicity of Karachi, Gen Musharraf said the city had provided shelter to all types of people. Whether they were rich or poor they were living a happy life here which is a Mini-Pakistan, a city of Sindh and the jugular vein and backbone of Pakistan’s economy.

The president said: “This city is the city of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah; the city of Sindhis, Urdu speaking people, Punjabis, Balochis, Pakhtoon, Biharis, Ismailis, Parsis, Memons, Khojas and is the city of Hindus, Muslims and Christians.”

He lauded the spirit of brotherhood Sindhis had shown for the Muslims who had migrated from India.

Gen Musharraf recalled his association with the city where he studied and grew up and said he had returned to his own city. This city taught him to fight against odds and gave him courage, he added.

Stressing the need to face the facts, the president said Karachi was a city of 14 million, where 10 per cent population of t